UI/UX Designer & Developer in Sydney

Help shape the future of free access to law in Australia. A rare opportunity to take on a future-focused, high-impact role enhancing access to justice for millions of users in the AI era.

About the job

AustLII (austlii.edu.au) is at a pivotal point in its growth. Under the leadership of world-class academics in computer science and law, we are developing the next generation of legal information services, combining trusted legal content, advanced search capabilities and new and emerging AI technologies to further strengthen free access to legal information in Australia. As a member of the newly established Software Engineering team at the centre of this transformation, you will help design and develop intuitive, user-centred experiences for AustLII’s extensive online legal data platforms and services. In this hybrid role, that brings together UI/UX design and frontend development capabilities, you will provide expertise in digital design, information architecture and interaction design principles as well as the technical know-how to support smooth design-to-engineering delivery. Working closely with our Data & Content and Infrastructure teams, you will contribute to collaborative, agile ways of working and a culture of innovation across the organisation.

Organisational background

AustLII is Australia’s most-used free-access online resource for Australian legal information, serving more than 500 million page access requests last year — over 1 million per day — from more than 13 million distinct hosts. Since 1995, AustLII has built the most comprehensive curated collection of Australian primary and secondary legal information and made it freely and anonymously available to the community online. In doing so, AustLII has created a service that plays a fundamental role in the Australian legal system, safeguards the integrity of Australian law and supports national data sovereignty. Sitting at the intersection of technology and the law, AustLII pioneered free online access to legal information in Australia and helped shape similar services around the world. Now, on the cusp of the most significant transformation in access to information since the development of the World Wide Web, AustLII is ready to pioneer once more. We are uniquely placed to develop AI-assisted tools that make Australian legal information easier to discover, understand and navigate for citizens, courts, government, educators and legal professionals.

What we offer

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation creating technology with real-world impact
• Work alongside a small, dedicated and collaborative team
• Work from centrally located offices in a vibrant campus environment
• Receive a competitive salary package with generous superannuation

Role and responsibilities

This fixed term role offers the opportunity to enhance user experience within a newly established Software Engineering team and contribute directly to AustLII’s next generation of AI-enabled services. Key responsibilities include:

• User-centred experiences: Combine UI/UX priorities with front-end software development expertise to design and deliver intuitive, user-centred experiences across AustLII’s legal information, search and AI-enabled platforms and services.
• User research: Plan, conduct and analyse user research, translating feedback and behavioural insights into practical improvements and enhanced digital experiences.
• Design quality: Drawing on a portfolio that showcases intuitive digital design and innovative problem solving, strengthen AustLII’s design standards, interaction patterns and accessibility practices.

Selection criteria

• A degree in Information Technology, Human-Computer Interaction, Design, or a related discipline, with substantial relevant experience in UI/UX design and frontend delivery; or an equivalent combination of specialist expertise, training and practical experience.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating user-centred design outcomes, including interaction design, information architecture, user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, visual design and responsive web interfaces, using contemporary design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch or equivalent.
• Proven ability to design effective user interfaces for large-scale, content-rich or search-based digital platforms, with the capacity to organise complex legal, research or knowledge-based information into clear, navigable, discoverable and accessible user experiences.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct and analyse user research, usability testing, interviews, surveys and rapid prototyping activities, and to translate findings into clear design recommendations and practical improvements to digital experiences.
• Sound knowledge of accessibility principles, inclusive design practices and contemporary UI standards, with experience developing or contributing to design systems, reusable components, interaction patterns and interface guidelines.
• Excellent communication, consultation and facilitation skills, with the ability to explain design rationale clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders, collaborate across disciplines and negotiate design and technical trade-offs constructively.
• Demonstrated ability to work under broad direction, exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities and contribute to feature planning, design reviews and design quality across the development lifecycle.

Highly regarded – Knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of Australian law and the legal system or previous experience working with legal information or legal knowledge systems.
• Previous experience working in an agile software engineering environment.
• Experience working within small to medium-sized organisations, research institutions, digital information services or mission-driven organisations.
• A genuine interest in AustLII’s mission to expand free access to legal information or digital public infrastructure or technologies that support access to information.

To be considered eligible for this role, you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.